The likelihood of the VIkings granting star running back Adrian Peterson's wish and signing quarterback Michael Vick just lessened, as Minnesota re-signed QB Matt Cassel late Friday. The deal is for two years and is worth a reported $10 million. With that move, it's unlikely the Vikings would bring in a third QB to compete for their starting job.

Cassel was the Vikings most effective quarterback in 2013. But, that's not really saying a whole lot. He played in nine games, starting six, amassing 1,807 yards and 11 touchdowns, while also throwing nine interceptions. Their quarterback play was probably the biggest factor in their disappointing 5-10-1 season.

Fantasy Analysis:

Heading into the 2014 fantasy season, there are a handful of things that will be on my "avoid-at-all-costs" list. The Vikings quarterback situation is one of them.

The team used three different starters in 2013; Cassel, Christian Ponder, and Josh Freeman. None of them set the world on fire, and two of them will be back in 2013. With Vick being the unanimous best option in the upcoming free agent signing period, there was a glimmer of optimism after Peterson tweeted his desire to bring Vick aboard. That glimmer is now gone with the team handing $5 million/year to Cassel.

It sounds like the team is not giving up on their 2011 first round (#12 overall) pick, Ponder. By re-signing Cassel, a 10 year veteran, the team has shown that they feel a Ponder/Cassel combo at the position is good enough to help the team get back to the playoffs. After making it to the postseason in 2012, the Vikings digressed in 2013 with their 5-10-1 record.

WIth this news coming only a day after Peterson's pro-Vick tweet, let's hope the Vikings know what they're doing, because an unhappy star is the last thing any team wants. Monitor the play of Cassel and Ponder in the pre-season and approachWR Cordarrelle Patterson with caution. He's a stud-in-the-making, but a bad QB could definitely de-value the young speedster.

Rusty has been an avid fantasy player since 2000, focusing primarily on football and dabbling a little in baseball. After dominating his local 16 team, auction league for the last 10 years, he and partner Mark Weakley have entered the high stakes world, making the playoffs and finishing 12th in their inaugural 252 team Main Event. They are also regulars in the playoffs in the auction format. He converses regularly with some of the best high stakes pros in the industry. Rusty joined the Scout Fantasy team in December 2013.
Rusty works in Training for a Top 12 world-wide Pharma company and also utilizes his real estate broker's license by owning investment properties and representing clients in real estate transactions.
A 2000 graduate of the University of Southern Indiana, Rusty resides in the Evansville, IN area with his wife & two daughters.